Ruta

While we were dining at Ruta yesterday I kept telling my wife we needed to check the kitchen because I thought my grandmother might be back there.
She wouldn’t check for me. She doesn’t like to join me on my misadventures. But that’s not the point.
This place has the best kugelis I’ve eaten since my grandma died. Well, I’ve made a pretty decent batch myself once or twice, but this place still does it better, and more authentic I would imagine too.
We tried koldunai, kugelis and cepelinai. The latter which I would not recommend unless you’ve had it before. I kind of hate them, but most Lithuanians do not feel the same way. I’m broken, I guess. I think they’re gluey and tasteless.
However, they’re very authentic, because I never liked my grandma’s either. So if you want the real deal, get your Lugan butt over to Ruta!

Wow this place has the best Lithuanian and European food I ever had! The zeppelins or cepelenias were spot on delicious as were their kugelis! We also had mushroom soup and it was homemade goodness! I will definitely be back and recommend you come here instead of café smilga for your Lithuanian fix!

Waitress sweet, attentive and very helpful with menu selections. I had pork cutlet with mushrooms and husband had chicken with bread sticks. Both perfectly cooked and flavorful. Startled with spinach soup. Broth based with spinach, light dill, potato, some egg and garnished with sour cream. Very flavorful and hearty portion when you enjoyed the light rye bread and butter. Loved the entrée plate which had beet salad, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes and cucumber curls as a side dish plus the broasted potatoes. Was pretty plus tasted really good. Even the husband loved the coleslaw and the beet salad! Finished with a ball of pastry that had farmer’s cheese in it. She called it something like a patchkee? Bought two to go and ate them as soon as we got home because we couldn’t help ourselves. Didn’t know Lithuanian food was so good. Will definitely return.

Again, why is this listed under BBQ? haha
It is a nice little nook, I have come here on occasion after biking at Waterfall Glen in the summer or when I need a change of scenery while studying.
It is a nice, quiet environment with a beautiful color scheme. The place is never very full so it is a nice, relaxing atmosphere. There is also a really nice outside sitting area for warmer weather.
The service I have had has always been fantastic. I have always had the same tall, dark-​haired.
The coffee is good. Nothing breath-​taking, in my opinion, but I would choose this over Starbucks any day of the week!
I have only ever had the crepes, meat and fruit, when I have come here. I wasn’t too impressed with the fruit ones, the fruit never seemed so fresh, but the plate was decorated so nicely. I like the meat ones though, but perhaps that is my German coming out!
I am more used to the French-​style of crepes, thinner and crispier than the crepes at Ruta, so it is an interesting texture and heartier.
The only thing that could really be improved upon is the menu. Yes, I do like that is in English and Lithuanian; but it is not descriptive at all.
For example, with the meat crepes I was taking a bit of a gamble. There was no description of what kind of meat, spices, flavor, etc. So luckily it turned out well!

Company ordered from here for lunch and as far as they can tell me… They gave it 10 stars for authenticity! Their food is very filling so don’t worry if you’re not ordering too enough. You gotta try their fried bread salad. It’s kind of like a rye croutons tossed with veggies and cheese.
Why are their dishes so filling? Because most of their dishes are made with grated potatoes and sort of dehydrated, then PACKED. Now that’s a lot of potato.
Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of too much sour cream. Next time I order anything, I’ll have to ask them to keep it on the side instead globbing it next to my dish for me.

First off I have NO CLUE why this place is listed under Barbeque Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Barbeque.
Ok I was HAPPY to see a Lithuanian restaurant SO close to my house. My father is part Lithuanian so I am familiar with some of the foods. Yummo!
I thought they gave BIG portions for a great low price! I don’t think there was anything over $ 10.00. The waitress we had was nice. It is in a little strip mall off of Cass Avenue. Clean, simple interior. Small place but it was nice and quiet when I went for lunch.
I like how their menu is in English and in Lithuanian. Pretty cool! :)
I will def give them another go when I am not watching my carbs.

What can one say for the best Lithuanian restaurant in Westmont, IL? To start with, it has excellent hours — open to 9 most weekdays, easy parking, a central location on Cass Avenue, high food quality, and decent portions. The interior is clean and warm — sort of Ikea meets Pottery Barn. They take credit cards, though prices are reasonable — the average entrée does not exceed $ 10.00.
The actual menu is printed in both Lithuanian and English, with the English sometimes needing a bit of explanation — like which meat is used in a dish or which vegetables are included on the side — but the waitress is very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions.
The culinary offerings are not vegetarian or vegan friendly by any stretch of the imagination. Like most Batlic/​Eastern European restaurants, the cuisine is heavy on meat, potatoes, pickled veggies, butter, and the like. With the exceptions of the cold salads and the kebabs, be prepared for the sort of very hardy and filling meal that knocks you out for the afternoon.
While my co-​workers will demote Ruta to a three star experience, I find the service to almost be refreshing in a way. We’ve never been rushed out and there has always been plenty of time to chat while waiting. That said, part of the table talk is always dedicated to the question of why does it take so long for your order to be taken, why the wait seems painfully long for your order, and why it takes so long to be presented with your check at the end of the meal. I am assuming a lot of it has to do with things being freshly prepared and being lightly staffed. Oh well, it doesn’t bug them enough to not return — and so we do, to again ponder the intricacies of the best Lithuanian place in town.